McFarlane, who created the original comic, is on board to write and direct the pic. He will also produce with Jason Blum.

The Spawn character first appeared in print in 1992, and gained popularity in the comics community almost instantly. In 1997, New Line adapted the character into a feature film starring Michael Jai White. HBO also took a crack at the antihero in an animated series that lasted for three seasons, each with six episodes, and earned two Emmy Awards.

In the comics, Spawn is a human-turned-Hellspawn who possesses superhuman strength and speed, and near immortality. Spawn also has the ability to teleport, shapeshift, and heal.

Jamie Foxx revealed he planted the seed to star in a film adaptation of Spawn five years ago during a meeting with Todd McFarland.

A few years back I flew out to Arizona to meet the man behind one of the most incredible comic book characters in the universe… Todd McFarlane.

He was taken aback when I told him with the enthusiasm of a young child that more than anything I wanted to put my name in the hat to embody his beloved character Spawn…. I told him no one would work harder than me if given the opportunity… well… the opportunity is here!!

I’m humbled and ready to transform… and to top things off the young Jason Blum is lending his brilliance to the project! Time to be great!!!! #Spawn.

Todd also recalled the memorable meeting when Jamie pitched him the idea of the Spawn project.

Jamie came to my office five years ago, and he had an idea about Spawn and we talked about it.

I never forgot him, and when I was writing this script, you sort of plug people in, and he was my visual guy and I never let go of him.

When I got done and my agents and everybody was talking about what actor, I said, I’m going to Jamie first and until he says no I don’t want to think about anyone else because I’ve never had anyone else in my head. Luckily, he hadn’t forgotten either.

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p style=”padding-left: 30px;”>I said, ‘Hey, I’m back to talk about Spawn again, and he was like, let’s do it.’